# 2013–14 LV Cup

The 2013–14 LV Cup (styled as the LV= Cup) is the 43rd season of England's national rugby union cup competition, and the ninth to follow the Anglo-Welsh format.
The competition consists of the four Welsh Pro12 teams and the twelve English Premiership clubs arranged into pools consisting of three English and one Welsh team. English clubs have been allocated to the pools depending on their finish in the 2012–13 Aviva Premiership. Welsh regions have been allocated to the pools to avoid repeating fixtures from the Heineken and Amlin Challenge Cups where possible. Teams are guaranteed two home and two away pool matches, with teams in Pools 1 and 4 playing each other and teams in Pools 2 and 3 playing each other, with the top team from each pool qualifying for the semi-finals. The competition will take place during the Autumn Internationals window and during the Six Nations thus allowing teams to develop their squad players.
Harlequins are defending champions this season after claiming the cup with a 32–14 victory over Sale Sharks in the final at Sixways Stadium in Worcester. It was the third victory for Harlequins in the competition, and the first since the current Anglo-Welsh format was adopted in 2005.

## Pool stages
### Points system

The points scoring system for the pool stages will be as follows:
* 4 points for a win
* 2 points for a draw
* 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match (TB)
* 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less (LB)

### Pool 1 v Pool 4

Pool 1 :
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
| Saracens | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 132 | 59 | 73 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 16 |
| Gloucester | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 69 | 54 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| London Irish | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 83 | 100 | −17 | 12 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Newport Gwent Dragons | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 49 | 92 | −43 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Updated 2 February 2014 Source: Premiership Rugby |||||||||||||
Pool 4 :
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
| Northampton Saints | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 126 | 56 | 70 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| Newcastle Falcons | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 69 | 82 | −13 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| Scarlets | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 54 | 100 | −46 | 6 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| London Wasps | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 56 | 95 | −39 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Updated 2 February 2014 Source: Premiership Rugby |||||||||||||

#### Round 1

* 8 November 2013 19:30
| (BP) London Wasps | 21–24 | Saracens (BP) |
| Try: Everard 15' c Cochrane 61' c Jacobs 71' c Con: Carlisle (3/3) | Report | Try: Ransom 29' m Tompkins 40' c Barrington 51' c Wilson 55' m Con: Spencer (2/4) |
* Adams Park Attendance: 5,200 Referee: Neil Hennesey (WRU)
* 8 November 2013 19:30
| Scarlets | 21–13 | Newport Gwent Dragons |
| Try: Knight 57' m McCusker 62' c Con: Lewis (1/1) Pen: Thomas (2/3) 7', 18' Lewis (1/2) 73' | Report | Try: Burton 66' c Con: Burton (1/1) Pen: Burton (1/3) 44' R. Jones (1/1) 70' |
* Parc y Scarlets Attendance: 5,971 Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
* 9 November 2013 17:00
| (BP) Northampton Saints | 33–6 | Gloucester |
| Try: K. Pisi (2) 23' m, 29' c Day (2) 72' c, 78' m Con: Dickson (1/2) Olver (1/2) Pen: Dickson (3/3) 4', 17', 53' | Report | Pen: Burns (2/2) 7', 12' |
* Franklin's Gardens Attendance: 12,870 Referee: Steve Lee (RFU)
* 10 November 2013 15:00
| Newcastle Falcons | 29–21 | London Irish |
| Try: Fury 33' c Mayhew 53' c Con: Clegg (2/2) Pen: Clegg (5/6) 6', 12', 17', 47', 71' | Report | Try: Fowlie 13' m Lewington 44' c Con: Geraghty (1/2) Pen: Geraghty (2/3) 19', 27' Dorrian (1/1) 66' |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 3,742 Referee: Darren Gamage (RFU)

#### Round 2

* 16 November 2013 12:00
| Newport Gwent Dragons | 20–8 | London Wasps |
| Try: Pewtner 30' c Hewitt 71' c Con: R. Jones (2/2) Pen: R. Jones (2/2) 2', 21' | Report | Try: Everard 27' m Pen: Carlisle (1/2) 5' |
* Rodney Parade Attendance: 4,150 Referee: Steve Lee (RFU)
* 16 November 2013 16:30
| Gloucester | 20–3 | Newcastle Falcons |
| Try: Cook 8' c Tindall 61' c Con: Burns (2/2) Pen: Burns (2/3) 30', 42' | Report | Pen: Clegg (1/1) 18' |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 11,168 Referee: Neil Hennessy (WRU)
* 17 November 2013 15:00
| London Irish | 18–39 | Northampton Saints |
| Try: Kenny 41' c Low 58' m Con: Dorrian (1/2) Pen: Dorrian (2/3) 35', 40+1' | Report | Try: Packman 26' c Waller 37' c Nutley 64' c Con: Dickson (3/3) Pen: Dickson (6/7) 3', 18', 21', 33', 54', 61' |
* Madejski Stadium Attendance: 5,792 Referee: Rhys Thomas (WRU)
* 17 November 2013 15:00
| (BP) Saracens | 51–10 | Scarlets |
| Try: Hankin 7' c Wilson 12' c Wray 39' c George 47' c Earle 71' c Streather 78' c Con: Spencer (4/4) Mordt (2/2) Pen: Spencer (3/3) 22', 30', 34' | Report | Try: Harris 25' c Con: Lewis (1/1) Pen: Lewis (1/1) 20' |
* Allianz Park Attendance: 4,166 Referee: Martin Fox (RFU)

#### Round 3

* 24 January 2014 19:30
| Scarlets | 13–7 | Gloucester (BP) |
| Try: Hughes 33' m A. Warren 76' m Pen: Lewis (1/1) 59' | Report | Try: B. Burns 54' c Con: B. Burns (1/1) |
* Parc y Scarlets Attendance: 5,487 Referee: Neil Hennessy (WRU)
* 25 January 2014 14:30
| Newport Gwent Dragons | 16–34 | Northampton Saints (BP) |
| Try: L. Jones 40' c Con: Tovey (1/1) Pen: Tovey (3/5) 12', 14', 26' | Report | Try: Penalty try 21' c Autagavaia 27' m Haywood 45' c Denman 52' m Van Velze 68' c Con: Dickson (3/5) Pen: Dickson (1/1) 7' |
* Rodney Parade Attendance: 6,011 Referee: Andrew Small (RFU)
* 25 January 2014 15:00
| London Wasps | 22–15 | London Irish (BP) |
| Try: Davies 3' c Jackson 19' m Bassett 23' c Con: Carlisle (2/3) Pen: Carlisle (1/2) 66' | Report | Try: Tagicakibau 11' m Hala'ufia 35' m Hagan 62' m |
* Adams Park Attendance: 5,039 Referee: Darren Gamage (RFU)
* 26 January 2014 15:00
| (BP) Saracens | 41–8 | Newcastle Falcons |
| Try: Wray (2) 47' m, 51' c Ransom 63' c Jubb 78' c Con: Spencer (3/4) Pen: Spencer (5/5) 3', 9', 12', 21', 40+1' | Report | Try: Catterick 14' m Pen: Hodgson (1/3) 29' |
* Allianz Park Attendance: 5,559 Referee: Greg MacDonald (RFU)

#### Round 4

* 31 January 2014 19:45
| (BP) Newcastle Falcons | 29–0 | Newport Gwent Dragons |
| Try: Godman 6' c Wilson (2) 19' m, 26' c McKenzie 77' c Con: Godman (2/3) Clegg (1/1) Pen: Godman (1/1) 40+1' | Report | |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 3,326 Referee: Daniel Jones (WRU)
* 1 February 2014 15:00
| (BP) Gloucester | 36–5 | London Wasps |
| Try: Trinder (2) 13' m, 16' c Cox (2) 19' c, 58' c Murphy 72' c Con: Cook (4/5) Pen: Cook (1/2) 40+1' | Report | Try: Johnson 23' m |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 10,750 Referee: Greg MacDonald (RFU)
* 1 February 2014 15:00
| Northampton Saints | 20–16 | Saracens (BP) |
| Try: Wilson 13' c Manoa (2) 51' m, 69' m Con: Hooley (1/2) Pen: Hooley (1/2) 56' | Report | Try: Spencer 33' c Con: Spencer (1/1) Pen: Spencer (3/3) 25', 59', 65' |
* Franklin's Gardens Attendance: 13,256 Referee: JP Doyle (RFU)
* 1 February 2014 16:00
| (BP) London Irish | 29–10 | Scarlets |
| Try: Fenby 3' m Geraghty 25' c Hagan 35' m Tagicakibau 40' m Dorrian 74' c Con: Geraghty (1/4) Humphreys (1/1) | Report | Try: Earle 70' c Con: Owen (1/1) Pen: Lewis (1/1) 6' |
* Madejski Stadium Attendance: 5,214 Referee: Steve Lee (RFU)

### Pool 2 v Pool 3

Pool 2 :
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
| Exeter Chiefs | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 112 | 67 | 45 | 13 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 14 |
| Sale Sharks | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 107 | 96 | 11 | 13 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 12 |
| Cardiff Blues | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 85 | 63 | 22 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| Leicester Tigers | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 83 | 89 | −6 | 8 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| Updated 2 February 2014 Source: Premiership Rugby |||||||||||||
Pool 3 :
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
| Bath | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 123 | 65 | 58 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 19 |
| Ospreys | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 88 | 132 | −44 | 10 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| Harlequins | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 56 | 91 | −35 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Worcester Warriors | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 48 | 99 | −51 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Updated 2 February 2014 Source: Premiership Rugby |||||||||||||

#### Round 1

* 8 November 2013 19:30
| (BP) Cardiff Blues | 16–21 | Worcester Warriors |
| Try: Young 52' c Con: Humberstone (1/1) Pen: G. Davies (2/2) 8', 11' Humberstone (1/2) 65' | Report | Try: O'Donnell 12' c Stephenson 26' c Stelling 37' c Con: Mieres (3/3) |
* Cardiff Arms Park Attendance: 6,823 Referee: Gwyn Morris (WRU)
* 8 November 2013 19:45
| (BP) Leicester Tigers | 39–16 | Ospreys |
| Try: Waldrom 27' m Harrison 61' c Wells 69' m Noone 79' c Con: O. Williams (2/4) Pen: O. Williams (5/6) 5', 7', 14', 43', 49' | Report | Try: S. Williams 72' c Con: S. Davies (1/1) Pen: S. Davies (3/5) 16', 20', 33' |
* Welford Road Attendance: 18,098 Referee: David Rose (RFU)
* 8 November 2013 19:45
| (BP) Sale Sharks | 20–27 | Bath |
| Try: Paterson 28' c Haley 76' c Con: Ford (1/1) Macleod (1/1) Pen: Ford (1/1) 1' Macleod (1/1) 69' | Report | Try: Perenise 21' c Banahan 63' c Attwood 80+2' c Con: Heathcote (3/3) Pen: Heathcote (1/3) 37' Drop: Heathcote 55' |
* Salford City Stadium Attendance: 3,572 Referee: Simon Rees (WRU)
* 9 November 2013 15:00
| Exeter Chiefs | 19–5 | Harlequins |
| Try: Naqelevuki 59' c Con: Sweeney (1/1) Pen: Sweeney (4/5) 7', 16', 46', 54' | Report | Try: Sackey 4' m |
* Sandy Park Attendance: 9,333 Referee: Dean Richards (RFU)

#### Round 2

* 15 November 2013 19:30
| Ospreys | 13–21 | Cardiff Blues |
| Try: Spratt 37' c Con: Morgan (1/1) Pen: Morgan (2/3) 20', 27' | Report | Try: Dacey 24' m Cook 70' c Con: Humberstone (1/2) Pen: Humberstone (2/2) 7', 16' Drop: Humberstone (1) 73 |
* Liberty Stadium Attendance: 5,706 Referee: Greg MacDonald (RFU)
* 15 November 2013 19:45
| (BP) Harlequins | 26–31 | Sale Sharks (BP) |
| Try: Botica 8' c Walker 52' c Con: Botica (2/2) Pen: Botica (4/4) 40+2', 43', 62', 72' | Report | Try: Seymour 17' c Miller 33' c Gaskell 47' c Cipriani 68' c Con: Macleod (4/4) Pen: Macleod (1/1) 23' |
* The Stoop Attendance: 12,049 Referee: Ian Tempest (RFU)
* 15 November 2013 19:45
| (BP) Worcester Warriors | 18–21 | Leicester Tigers |
| Try: Symons 5' m Abbott 16' m Scotland-Williamson 79' m Pen: Warwick (1/4) 52' | Report | Try: Noone 45' m Penalty try 67' c Con: Williams (1/2) Pen: Williams (2/3) 19', 33' Drop: Williams 40' |
* Sixways Attendance: 9,855 Referee: Gwyn Morris (WRU)
* 17 November 2013 13:00
| (BP) Bath | 37–15 | Exeter Chiefs |
| Try: Banahan 1' c Garvey 2' c Roberts 32' c Beech 70' c Con: Ford (3/3) Heathcote (1/1) Pen: Ford (2/2) 39', 49' Heathcote (1/1) 79' | Report | Try: Phillips 59' m Bateman 76' c Con: Sweeney (1/1) Pen: Slade (1/1) 7' |
* Recreation Ground Attendance: 11,323 Referee: Andrew Small (RFU)

#### Round 3

* 25 January 2014 14:00
| Sale Sharks | 20–6 | Worcester Warriors |
| Try: Easter 56' c Ingall 70' c Con: Ford (2/2) Pen: Ford (2/2) 4', 41' | Report | Pen: Davies (2/4) 49', 61' |
* Salford City Stadium Attendance: 3,462 Referee: Steve Lee (RFU)
* 25 January 2014 15:00
| (BP) Bath | 24–13 | Cardiff Blues |
| Try: Faosiliva 7' m Young 26' c Henson 48' c Mercer 74' m Con: Heathcote (2/4) | Report | Try: Fish 76' c Con: Humberstone (1/1) Pen: Humberstone (2/3) 5', 35' |
* Recreation Ground Attendance: 11,847 Referee: Dean Richards (RFU)
* 25 January 2014 15:00
| (BP) Exeter Chiefs | 36–22 | Ospreys (BP) |
| Try: Cowan-Dickie (2) 14' m, 48' c Scaysbrook 44' c Phillips 59' c Armand 70' c Con: Sweeney (4/5) Pen: Sweeney (1/1) 22' | Report | Try: Howells 8' m Allen 17' m Jenkins 51' c Grabham 55' m Con: Morgan (1/4) |
* Sandy Park Attendance: 8,760 Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
* 25 January 2014 15:00
| Harlequins | 20–6 | Leicester Tigers |
| Try: Sackey 11' m Fa'asavalu 17' m Guest 51' c Con: Botica (1/3) Pen: Botica (1/2) 37' | Report | Pen: Lamb (2) 4', 32' |
* The Stoop Attendance: 7,842 Referee: Gwyn Morris (WRU)

#### Round 4

* 31 January 2014 19:05
| (BP) Cardiff Blues | 35–5 | Harlequins |
| Try: Paulo 29' c Evans 34' c Fish 42' c T. Williams 46' c Breeze 79' c Con: Humberstone (5/5) | Report | Try: Lindsay-Hague 39' m |
* Cardiff Arms Park Attendance: 5,967 Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
* 31 January 2014 19:30
| (BP) Ospreys | 37–36 | Sale Sharks (2 BP) |
| Try: Natoga (3) 8' c, 45' c, 80' c Baker 60' c Con: Davies (4/4) Pen: Davies (3/3) 7', 21', 67' | Report | Try: Fihaki (3) 2' c, 12' c, 35' c Ingall 30' c Haley 47' m Con: Ford (4/5) Pen: Ford (1/1) 54' |
* Liberty Stadium Attendance: 3,189 Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)
* 31 January 2014 19:45
| Leicester Tigers | 17–35 | Bath (BP) |
| Try: Matera 8' c Scully 22' c Con: Williams (2/2) Pen: Williams (1/2) 31' | Report | Try: Fa'osiliva 16' m Banahan 35' c Devoto 58' c Fearns 66' c Con: Henson (3/4) Pen: Henson (3/3) 1', 26', 52' |
* Welford Road Attendance: 20,616 Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)
* 1 February 2014 15:00
| Worcester Warriors | 3–42 | Exeter Chiefs (BP) |
| Pen: Pennell (1/1) 27' | Report | Try: James 4' m Steenson 37' c Thomas (2) 68' c, 77' c Sweeney 79' c Con: Steenson (4/5) Pen: Steenson (3/4) 21', 24', 48' |
* Sixways Attendance: 5,447 Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU)

## Knockout stage

| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final |
| 9 March – Recreation Ground | 9 March – Recreation Ground |
| Bath | 19 |
| Bath | 19 | 16 March – Sandy Park | 16 March – Sandy Park |
| Exeter Chiefs | 22 | 16 March – Sandy Park | 16 March – Sandy Park |
| Exeter Chiefs | 22 | Exeter Chiefs | 15 |
| 8 March – Franklin's Gardens | 8 March – Franklin's Gardens | | Exeter Chiefs | 15 |
| 8 March – Franklin's Gardens | 8 March – Franklin's Gardens | Northampton Saints | 8 |
| Northampton Saints | 26 | Northampton Saints | 8 |
| Saracens | 7 | | |

### Qualification criteria

The top teams from each pool qualify for the knockout stages. The pool winners will be decided by the following criteria:
    1. The pool winner will be the club with the highest number of match points in each pool. The pool winners will be ranked 1 to 4 by reference to the number of match points earned in the pools.
    2. If two or more clubs in the same pool end the pool stage equal on match points, then the order in which they have finished will be determined by:
       i. the greater number of matches won by the club and
       ii. if the number of matches won is equal, the club with the greater total number of tries scored and
       iii. if the total number of tries scored is equal, the club with the greater points difference (points scored for, less points scored against) and
       iv. if the points difference is equal, the club with the fewer number of red cards and
       v. if the number of red cards is the same, by the toss a coin.
Each of the four qualifying clubs shall be ranked as above and shall play each other as follows:
    Semi-final 1 – 1st ranked club v 4th ranked club
    Semi-final 2 – 2nd ranked club v 3rd ranked club
The first club listed in each of the semi-final matches shall be the home club.
Qualifiers :
| Rank | Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
| 1 | Bath | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 123 | 65 | 58 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 19 |
| 2 | Northampton Saints | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 126 | 56 | 70 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 3 | Saracens | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 132 | 59 | 73 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 16 |
| 4 | Exeter Chiefs | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 112 | 67 | 45 | 13 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 14 |

### Semi-finals

* 8 March 2014 12:30
| Northampton Saints | 26 – 7 | Saracens |
| Try: G. Pisi (3) 51' m, 64' m, 77' c Con: Myler (1/3) Pen: Hooley (2/2) 5', 9' Drop: Myler 59' | Report | Try: Ransom 20' c Con: Spencer (1/1) |
* Franklin's Gardens Attendance: 11,062 Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU)
* 9 March 2014 13:00
| Bath | 19 – 22 | Exeter Chiefs |
| Try: Houston 1' c Con: Heathcote (1/1) Pen: Heathcote (4/5) 19', 35', 47', 63' | Report | Try: Arscott (2) 26' m, 51' c Vainikolo 57' c Con: Slade (2/3) Pen: Slade (1/3) 8' |
* Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,225 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth (RFU)

### Final

* 16 March 2014 15:00
| Exeter Chiefs | 15–8 | Northampton Saints |
| Try: Whitehead 3' m Mumm 49' c Con: Slade (1/2) Pen: Slade (1/1) 36' | Report | Try: Manoa 69' m Pen: Dickson (1/1) 11' |
* Sandy Park, Exeter Attendance: 10,744 Referee: Andrew Small (New Zealand)
| | 15 | Luke Arscott |
| | 14 | Fet'u Vainikolo |
| | 13 | Phil Dollman |
| | 12 | Jason Shoemark |
| | 11 | Matt Jess |
| | 10 | Henry Slade |
| | 9 | Dave Lewis |
| | 8 | Kai Horstmann |
| | 7 | Ben White |
| | 6 | Dave Ewers |
| | 5 | Damian Welch |
| | 4 | Dean Mumm (c) |
| | 3 | Hoani Tui |
| | 2 | Chris Whitehead |
| | 1 | Ben Moon |
| Replacements: ||
| | 16 | Luke Cowan-Dickie |
| | 17 | Carl Rimmer |
| | 18 | Alex Brown |
| | 19 | Romana Graham |
| | 20 | Don Armand |
| | 21 | Haydn Thomas |
| | 22 | Gareth Steenson |
| | 23 | Sireli Naqelevuki |
| Coach: ||
| Rob Baxter ||
| | 15 | Ben Foden |
| | 14 | Ken Pisi |
| | 13 | George Pisi |
| | 12 | James Wilson |
| | 11 | Jamie Elliott |
| | 10 | Glenn Dickson |
| | 9 | Kahn Fotuali'i |
| | 8 | Gerrit-Jan van Velze |
| | 7 | Phil Dowson (c) |
| | 6 | Calum Clark |
| | 5 | Christian Day |
| | 4 | Samu Manoa |
| | 3 | Salesi Ma'afu |
| | 2 | Mike Haywood |
| | 1 | Alex Waller |
| Replacements: ||
| | 16 | Ross McMillan |
| | 17 | Ethan Waller |
| | 18 | Tom Mercey |
| | 19 | James Craig |
| | 20 | Ben Nutley |
| | 21 | Alex Day |
| | 22 | Will Hooley |
| | 23 | Fa'atoina Autagavaia |
| Coach: ||
| Jim Mallinder ||
* In previous seasons, the winner of the Anglo-Welsh Cup (if English) was awarded with a place in the following season's Heineken Cup. This is no longer the case with the advent of the Rugby Champions Cup.